Vulcan blast reassurance

THE Ministry of Defence has sought to reassure residents living near the nuclear test submarine base at Vulcan after a loud bang was heard coming from the site late last night.

It has stated that the noise was caused by a steam/heating boiler in a pumphouse building exploding.

A spokesman said no-one was injured and the incident had not had any impact on operations at the site.

Vulcan, next door to the civil nuclear plant at Dounreay, operated a water-cooled nuclear reactor until it was shut down in July 2015. The site, run by Rolls Royce, is now being defuelled and prepared for decommissioining.